Need to convert bits to bytes or other data units? Our free Bits to Bytes Converter makes it quick and easy. Enter a value, choose the unit you are converting from, and select the unit you want to convert to. The converter instantly shows the result for bits, bytes, kilobits, megabits, gigabits, kilobytes, megabytes, and gigabytes. It is useful for understanding internet speeds, file sizes, data transfers, and storage measurements.
Example
With:
- Enter Value: 100
- From: Megabits (Mbit)
- To: Bytes (B)
The result will be:
Result: 100 Mbit = 12,500,000 B
For the more familiar download-speed comparison:
100 Mbps = 12.5 MB/s
That’s because 1 byte = 8 bits.
What Is a Bits to Bytes Converter?
A Bits to Bytes Converter helps you convert between bits and bytes and their larger data units. You can use it to convert values such as bits, kilobits, megabits, gigabits, bytes, kilobytes, megabytes, and gigabytes.
For example, 8 bits equals 1 byte.
What Is a Bit?
A bit is the smallest basic unit of digital information. It can have a value of either 0 or 1.
Bits are commonly used when talking about internet and network speeds. Internet plans are usually advertised in units such as Mbps or Gbps.
What Is a Byte?
A byte is made up of 8 bits.
Bytes are commonly used to describe file sizes, storage capacity, and the amount of data stored on a device.
For example:
8 bits = 1 byte
Bits vs Bytes
Bits and bytes are different units, even though their names can look similar.
The abbreviations are also different:
- bit – commonly written as
b - byte – commonly written as
B
The uppercase and lowercase letters matter. For example, Mb means megabits, while MB means megabytes.
How to Convert Bits to Bytes
The basic conversion is simple:
Bytes = Bits ÷ 8
For example:
80 bits ÷ 8 = 10 bytes
So, 80 bits equals 10 bytes.
When converting bytes back to bits:
Bits = Bytes × 8
For example:
10 bytes × 8 = 80 bits
Bits to Bytes Examples
| Bits | Bytes |
|---|---|
| 8 bits | 1 byte |
| 80 bits | 10 bytes |
| 800 bits | 100 bytes |
| 8,000 bits | 1,000 bytes |
| 80,000 bits | 10,000 bytes |
| 800,000 bits | 100,000 bytes |
| 8,000,000 bits | 1,000,000 bytes |
Mbps vs MB/s
One of the most common places where bits and bytes cause confusion is internet speed.
Internet speeds are generally shown in bits per second, such as Mbps or Gbps. Downloaded files and many applications, however, show data rates in bytes per second, such as MB/s.
For example:
100 Mbps ÷ 8 = 12.5 MB/s
So a 100 Mbps connection has a theoretical data rate of 12.5 MB/s before accounting for network overhead and other factors.
Bits, Bytes, Kilobits and Kilobytes
With decimal units, which are commonly used for networking:
- 1 byte = 8 bits
- 1 kilobit = 1,000 bits
- 1 megabit = 1,000,000 bits
- 1 gigabit = 1,000,000,000 bits
- 1 kilobyte = 1,000 bytes
- 1 megabyte = 1,000,000 bytes
- 1 gigabyte = 1,000,000,000 bytes
The converter above uses these decimal conversions.
Why Is Internet Speed Measured in Bits?
Network speeds are commonly expressed in bits per second because it provides a standard way to describe the rate at which digital information is transferred over a connection.
You may see internet plans advertised as 50 Mbps, 100 Mbps, 500 Mbps, or 1 Gbps.
Remember that the lowercase b represents bits, while the uppercase B represents bytes.
When Can You Use a Bits to Bytes Converter?
This converter can be useful when:
- Checking internet download speeds
- Comparing Mbps with MB/s
- Understanding network speeds
- Converting data transfer rates
- Working with file sizes
- Comparing data measurements
- Learning about bits and bytes
- Working with networking or computer systems
Frequently Asked Questions
How many bits are in one byte?
There are 8 bits in 1 byte.
How do I convert bits to bytes?
Divide the number of bits by 8.
For example, 800 bits ÷ 8 = 100 bytes.
How do I convert bytes to bits?
Multiply the number of bytes by 8.
For example, 100 bytes × 8 = 800 bits.
Is Mbps the same as MB/s?
No. Mbps means megabits per second, while MB/s means megabytes per second.
Since 1 byte equals 8 bits, 100 Mbps is equivalent to 12.5 MB/s before network overhead.
Is MB bigger than Mb?
Yes, when comparing the corresponding decimal units. MB means megabytes and Mb means megabits. One byte contains 8 bits.
What is the difference between b and B?
Lowercase b represents a bit, while uppercase B represents a byte.
Does this converter use decimal units?
Yes. The converter uses decimal data units, where 1 kilobit equals 1,000 bits and 1 kilobyte equals 1,000 bytes.
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